Various Relay Events in February

For most of Second Life history, the Relay for Life's fundraising season has started in March. This year, it started a month early in mid-February. The big event was the Kickoff. After that, there were numerous other events from special club parties to fantasy roleplaying to DJing on stage to show and tell,and more.

Read the story in Events.

SL Video: "Keeba Tammas And Tiny Maniacs At Ohana Surf"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Diadorine on Nov 2019

Caledon's Fourteenth Anniversary

On Wednesday, Second Life's largest steampunk community celebrated it's fourteenth anniversary. There would be two events that night, which took place a few days after it's Mardi Gras. There was much fun to be had, by local residents and visiting friends alike.

Read the story in Events.

JB Raccoon Needs A Hand

JB Raccoon, the co-owner of KXVN Radio, has run into some financial difficulties. The reason: some paperwork snafus that have thrown a monkey wrench into his Social Security income.

"I am STILL trying to sort everything out however after I pay my rent that leaves me with $30 to pay my other expenses including my medication refills which the reality is, I just can't make it. So here I am calling for help, hoping to raise the funds so I can cover my expenses while I fight to get this sorted."

JB has set up a Gofundme page for donations. His goal is $1000 USD. 

"Thank you in advance to all that help, my words would never be able to describe how appreciative I will be."

Addition: For some reason, Gofundme took the page down. Those who already sent cash will have it refunded. JB is also accepting help via Paypal : paypal.me/jbraccoon .

This and That

Quite a bit has been going on in and around Second Life. While some things I've been able to get to, others have been on the back burner.

Various happenings at the Relay for Life, including a look at the Realy Hard Cafe, Matt Carlton's DJ performance, Saffia Widdershins' "Show and Tell," a "Roll an Cure" D and D game by "We Are Dragons," and more.

The Return of the Virtual Black History Museum, Featured in History in Second Life.

The man behind the Black Dragon third-party viewer is in financial trouble, and needs support to keep the viewer updates going. Otherwise he'll have to stop further work on it as he searches for full time work in real life.

There's been more than a little discussion about Sansar and speculations for reasons on why it failed, in both New World Notes and Ryan Scultz (second link).

Hopefully I can write on one of these soon.

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Recent Developments in Medicine"

"Recent Developments in Medicine"

Saturday, February 29
10 AM SLT

Host: Matthew Burr
Guests: Robert Hendrix, MD, Dr. Stephen Gasior

To read more, Click Here

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

Lab Gab Friday Feb 28 At 11 AM : "Interview with Patch Linden and the Moles"

The next episode of the "Lab Gab" show is tomorrow, Friday February 28, at 11 AM SL time. Hostess Strawberry Linden will be interviewing Patch Linden and a few of the Moles. Among the subjects to be discussed, the Second Life Seventeenth Birthday.

Join our host, Strawberry Linden, as she speaks with our beloved VP of Product Operations, Patch Linden, as well as some very hard-working Moles on his team: Squeaky Mole, Alotta Mole, Notta Mole, and Mischievious Mole. They will be discussing the upcoming Second Life 17th birthday celebrations, as well as Linden Homes!

For those wanting to have a certain question answered, residents are free to submit one Here.

The show will be broadcast live on Youtube, though will be available to see later.

To read the announcement in full, Click Here.

RFL Announcement: Lindens to Reveal 5th Home Theme at Home And Garden Expo

The American Cancer Society is excited to host the 5th Linden Home Reveal as part of the 2020 SL Home & Garden Expo. Residents are welcome to take a tour of the new Linden Home theme that will become available at 10am SLT on Friday, February 28, 2020. Residents can land on the American Cancer Society Island and walk to the Reveal region following the directional signs from there.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/American%20Cancer%20Society/128/128/25

“We are always grateful for our relationship with Linden Lab and are honored to host the Themed Home Reveals,” says Stingray9798 Raymaker, American Cancer Society staff Director in Second Life. “We hope to use this opportunity as a way to educate the residents of Second Life that the American Cancer Society is here to help cancer patients and caregivers from around the world, and to give our Second Life community a means to fight back against a disease that has taken too much.”

This marks the 5th Linden Home theme that will be added to the Bellisseria community, alongside the previous 4 themes: traditional, trailers, houseboats, and Victorian. Residents of Bellisserria are sharing theories with one another in the Bellisserria forum and a queue of avatars has been sighted on the American Cancer Society island.

Source: Second Life ACS Information
 

RFL Announcement: Week Two Team Fundraising Levels

WOHOOO Let's Celebrate the teams that have hit a Fundraising Club Level through this second week of Relay For Life!! We are so excited to share the teams that have raised enough money so far to have hit a Fundraising Club Level! Each Monday or Tuesday this list will be sent out with teams that have achieved a new Fundraising Club Level for that week!

GO RELAY!

Team Celebrate
Ariel and Kit

* * *

This first list is for the first two weeks with totals as of Monday 2/24/2020.

Congrats to everyone who has hit a Fundraising Club Level!!!! We are definitely saying "Game On, Cancer!"

Bronze

Relay Rockers
Roos With A Dream
Stormy's Stars
SHB Gems
Aether Chrononauts Tiny Steps
Cancer Gets Stung
Friends For A Cure
Goreans in Relay For Life
MC - Legends MC
Purpose SL Homes
Team Bobbi Sue
Supernaturals For A Cure
Mieville Steampunks
United Artists of SL
Team Sol Existence
MC - Thunder Demons MC
SOUL SISTERS n FaMiLy
Relay for Christ
Sisters in SL
Steelhead Salmons
Feed Your Soul, Find A Cure
GridPlay
Southern Nights Country Club
B - Bellis Blues and Djs
We are Dragon's
UFS Metamorphosis
Seekers of Hope
The Red Door
Bluzsters For Life
Team Core Charities
The Krazy Korner Team

Silver

MC - Relay Goes MC
Gull's Wing Sailing Club
BlueWaters Plaza
Camping for a Cure
Cure Chasers
Harmony of Hope
Esalinus
MC - Cobras MC World
Second Life Cheerleading Squad
Burners Without Borders in SL
Sanctuary Rockers
Bellisseria for RFL
MC - SISTERS OF MAYHEM

Gold

MC - The River of Life
RGF Estates for RFL
Free Spirit Hippie Brigade
SUNBEAMERS
Team Shadow
Attention on Cancer

Platinum

The Grove Country Club Estates RFL Team

Cartoon of the Day: Optimism or Foolishness?

Taken at the Happy Vixen. Someone was showing off a "beatdown" animation. So what would a guy at a club do to get such a pummeling, and by whom? My imagination had a few ideas.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Veterans Isle Benefit Raises Over 145,000 Lindens

On Sunday February 23, Veterans Isle held it's monthly benefit concert. The event, which raises money for the Homes For Our Troops charity, was organized in party by Frets Nirvana.

Tonight we are conducting our February Homes for Our Troops benefit and we once again have an excellent lineup.

DJ Waya Snowpaw started things up at 4PM SL time. At 5PM, it was Aby Jaidoy turn to perform for the crowd. Dimivan Ludwig took to the stage at 6PM. Wolfie Starfire sang away at 7PM. And covering the final hour was ReggieSunset Rookswood at 8 PM SL time.

Dropping by Dimivan's set, the crowd cheered for him, "YAY DIMI!" "So beautiful Dimi!!" "I love this song so much." "Great version of this Dimi!" But they also kidded him around a little, "Dimi had some free time in the bathroom before the show to do some reading." And sometimes kidding one another, "Laurie I didn't know you were singing with Dimi?" One song got someone wondering whom originally sang it, "Bob Seger? Or Kid Rock? Eminem?" "Could you imagine Dimi singing an Eminem song? (laughter)"

Donations were made in two house-shaped kiosks on either side of the stage. On occasion, Frets would make offers to get people to donate more, "34450 right now in those kiosks.  Let's get it to 40k. I will put in another 2500 Lindens." He would also remind people of the reason for the event, "We need to be thanking our vets for what they have done, major sacrifice!" "Folks, we sent $14000 to Homes For Our Troops last year. We are really trying to beat that number in 2020. Gonna take a big Second Life effort!!  Thank you for helping. To learn more about Home For Our Troops visit www.hfotusa.org ."

At the end, a total of 145,025 Linden dollars had been raised for the charity.

Veterans Isle usually has it's monthly concert on the last Sunday every month, though there are occasional exceptions such as Memorial Day Weekend.

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement : RFL Bid Me and Raffle

Bid us Human or Keep us Tiny

From now until March 5th, Stormy's Stars RFL team is holding a big war.  Did you like us as Dinkies or do you want us as Humans?
Come to Cattitude and vote in the kiosks .  1L=1 Vote.
All Lindens got directly to RFL

"All during Home and Garden, you can bed. At the end, whichever team kiosk has the most will be the winner. For every 2,000 we will do one day."

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hutter/93/25/21


Profile Picture Raffle

We have planned a raffle for 2 profile pictures to be taken by a good photographer, SoulCrack3r. The raffle tickets are only for 10L$. The amount raised will go for American Cancer Society. Winner will be declared on March 1st.

Will you be willing to participate? http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Elefsis/72/230/21

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs and Furry Fashion Lounge

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, the Montecito Bay clubs, and the Furry Fashion Lounge.
 
Club Cutlass: Best in 'O' and 'P', On the Job, Really Tacky

Happy Vixen: Mardi Gras/ Green, Purple, and Feathers, Wolves, TBA, Ice and Snow, Pink, Around the World, Scales and Horns, Mice and Bunnies, Class and *ss, TBA

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Montecito Bay: TBA

Furry Fashion Lounge: CAYA, Sci- Fi, Hooves and Horns, Metal, Steampunk, Purple vs Blue, Hyeenu avatar release (stripes and spots), Late Night, Cute

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.

Marianne McCann's 14th Rezzday

Saturday February 22 was the rezzday of Bay City's most noted resident: Marianne McCann. To celebrate, a party was held at The Pen in the Mashpea sim

The little venue was packed, with about 43 people at one point. People came by to wish the noted child avatar well. Though one seeing her SL age remarked , "Dang, Mari is too old for a spanking now." Marianne responded she was the "Oldest 8 1/2 year old" on the Grid. She would comment getting to Second Life, "The three people who first got me into SL, unbenowst to me, were 1. a child avatar, 2. a child avatar. 3. a cub."

There was also a bit of discussion, "Someone asked my opinion on some SL issue some months back, like I had some inside info and I said, 'don't ask me, ask Marianne!'" Marianne answered, "I don't always have any sekrit info to share, but I do tend to keep my ear to the rail." A third person commented, "Mari remembers everything! That's her real sekrit."

"That's my secret, Cap. I keep coming back to SL because everyone is doing something really cool all the time."

Happy Rezzday, Marianne

Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: The 2020 Celebrate - Remember - Fight Back Top DJ Fundraising Competition

The Relay Rockers announced today (Feb 21)  plans for the return of the Celebrate - Remember - Fight Back Top DJ Fundraising Competition to support the Relay For Life of Second Life and the American Cancer Society.  The competition, which brings together some of Second Life’s best club and radio presenters, has raised more than $35,000 (L$8,500,000) since it was introduced in 2012.

The competition is open to the first 20 DJs to apply using our Online Application http://bit.ly/CRFB2020 or on the team website https://relayrockers.org/crfb-top-dj-competition-2020/ . Participants can choose to perform at the Rocker’s home region Arinultra Cay, or may compete at their own venue.  The Preliminary Round will run for 4 weeks, from March 28th through April 25th, with a maximum of 5 competitors each week.  The Relay Rockers will work with each entrant to assure their selected time options can be met.

The top 4 competitors will compete in the Semi Finals, to be held May 2nd and 3rd at Arinultra Cay. The 2020 Finals will be head at RelayStock, May 17th.

Competition applications must be completed before March 21st..

The Relay Rockers will provide all venues with an official Relay For Life of Second Life kiosk, set to the team. A representative of the Rockers must be present during the 1 hour competition and will work with venue host and make announcements of Relay and Society information during the event.

The Top 4 DJs in will move to the semifinal round to be held at Arinultra Cay on the weekend of May 4th and 5th and compete in 1 hour sets. There will be no carry over of totals from previous rounds. Previous round totals will be used only to determine seeding and as a tie-breaker. The 2 presenters with the highest Semi Final Total will compete 90 minute sets for the 2020 CRFB Top DJ trophy at the 2020 RelayStock Multiteam Event.

The Relay Rockers have been Walking Strong since 2005.  The team is celebrating its 16th season as part of the Relay For Life of Second Life.  The Celebrate Remember Fight Back Top DJ Competition, and all team events, support the mission of the American Cancer Society to Save Lives, Celebrate Lives and Lead the Fight For A World Without Cancer. 

Find out more about us at www.relayrockers.org. Learn more about the Relay For Life of Second Life at www.relayforlife.org/secondlife.

If you have questions about the American Cancer Society or need assistance with a cancer diagnosis visit www.cancer.org, American Cancer Society in Second Life? or call 800-227-2345

For More Information Contact Trader Whiplash (trader@t1radio.com)

Top Stories of the 2010s: Linden Lab's "Shared Creative Spaces"

In recent days, Linden Lab made the decision to turn to "Plan B" for Sansar, meaning either selling it or finding a partner to keep it going. So why did Linden Lab put energy in something else other than Second Life? Actually, it's been doing so since 2011, when the decision was made to develop or buy other products as well. They hoped that they would bring in some extra money and one or more would be a big hit. But for all the Lab's effort, only one of these "shared creative spaces" would remain after a few years.

Read more in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

Winners of Last Names Contest Announced

On the Lab Gab last Friday, February 21, there were a number of announcements, including Linden Lab looking to either sell Sansar or find a partner to help keep it going. Another subject discussed was last names. The details about the last names contest were announced by Keira Linden , the Product Manager of the Name Change Project.

"So I got to go through all of the lovely submissions everbody sent in," she told, "There were some awesomly creative names in there, a lot that we can use, some that we cannot." She stated there were over 2400 submissions, "So it took a while to gather all those names and if you can suggest up to three names per submission, that's a lot of names."



(Click here if the video does not play 38:08 )

"But I have managed to narrow it down to eight names." She then listed them in alphabetical order.

Conundrum
Dismantled
Huntsman
Littlepaws
Nova
Ravenhurst
Wumpkins
Yeatley

While the contest called for five names, "I had a really difficult time narrowing those down ... so I went over a little bit." These names will not be the only surnames available when the Lab starts giving the residents the option to change their names, but there will be more. The winners were notified via email, and will be getting a free name change when the process becomes available.

Keira stated she couldn't give a date yet on when residents will be able to have their account name changed, "It's such a huge project. It touches every deep dark dusty corner of Second Life, and we've had to get in there and explore how name changes is going to affect pretty much every aspect of Second Life. ... We want to make sure it goes out in good condition." She stated one reason one reason she couldn't give a date was because once the project gets turned over to the Q and A team, "they're going to find some stuff that we missed along the way. So I can't give you a solid date."

In November, Linden Lab had stated residents would be able to change names at the end of January. 

Hat tip: Inara Pey

Bixyl Shuftan

"Emergency Vet Sale" Project Regalia by Sugarcult

For anyone who doesn't have the Regalia, now is the best time to get it!  The creator needs as much of L she can get to help her cat, who has been poisoned, and she needs to pay the vet bill. Please, help her out.

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Sugarcult-Project-Regalia-EMERGENCY-VET-SALE/18217485

Even if you've already payed for the Regalia, you can send L directly to Alex; Alias Aura on SL. Thanks guys~

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/AwwHeck for her payment.

From Becky Nosferatu 

Addition: Becky would later say the cat wasn't actually poisoned, but had a severe ear infection bad enough to look like poisoning. 

A Busy Weekend

Quite a bit happened this weekend from Relay events to the Home and Garden Expo to the monthly Homes For Our Troops benefit concert (above) to the LOLapalooza at Raglan Shire, and more.

More on some of these happenings later.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Mieville's fishing contest.

By Bixyl Shuftan

The 2020 Relay Season Kickoff

Saturday February 16 was the official start of the 2020 Relay for Life in Second Life's fundraising season: the Kickoff. Taking place in two sims, one at the Home and Garden Expo, the other at the Bellissaria Fairgrounds, numerous residents were there to officially start "Game on Cancer!" The Newser was there, and got pictures.

See the scenes in Events.

Announcement: EVENTS for Home and Garden Feb, 23rd, For Relay For Life

We are still relaying at Home and Garden - come on over - shop and be entertained

 Help us Give The Gift of Hope to someone you will never meet, in a country you may never visit, but who desperately needs it.  Your Gift will last a lifetime.

**11am SLT   Anemone Wing Walker - Live at H and G for RFL**
We are a wing walking performance and training team. Our group is not only intended for our team members, but also for all other wing walking performers and enthusiasts, to keep everyone informed about our activities and shows.
Our activities include performing shows, training of wing walkers and pilots, and we also provide personal wing walking experiences.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hope%201/160/251/23

**12 NOON SLT  Rosy and the Funsters - Live at H and G For RFL**
Rosy sings live with her crazy group of funsters who are a wonderful band
we hope to bring fun and laughter!!!!!!  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hope%201/122/131/23

**2pm SLT  Prim Perfect Talk with Saffia Widdershins**
Show and Tell - Always Fun 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hope%203/115/217/30


**4pm SLT Release of Lanterns at H and G for RFL**

Nothing is more beautiful, and a wonderful time to reflect on those we have lost.  One person commented yesterday, " It is  like sending little prayers or kisses to heaven"  

**6pm Miha Shamen At H and G for RFL  - LIVE **

My name is Miha Shamen, I've been involved in music for many years, singing as Mihaere Shamen in sl since Jan 2009. I play guitar & piano badly, mostly I sing live. I sing many eclectic songs from my song list. Golden Oldies Blues Reggae Rock Ballroom and Country. I have the music for the majority of  venues, adding the technique to the Art Of Entertainment in my shows.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hope%201/126/132/23

LOLapalooza at Raglan Shire

 Saturday Feb 22 marked the first half of Raglan Shire's "LOLapalooza" music festival. The first performers up were Keeba Tammas and the Tiny Maniacs band, "Welcome to Raglan Shire and LOLapalooza to all our visitors!"

 I didn't see a tip jar, just a donation box for money to help keep the sims going. The band would play for an hour. Then the stage would see several other live musicians that day. The sim was packed, with over 70 avatars when I checked it out, tinies, furs, and normal humans. The tinies were the most interesting, "Tea been nipping into da WootJuice today." "Uh oh losted Animata.   Dat last chord was just too heavy." "Pancake Puffs....Pancake Puffs!" "PEACE LUV AND WAFFLES!!!  YEAH MAN! ITS SOOOO GROOOOVYYYY!!"

The schedule for today, Sunday February 23 is as follows:

12noon   Songbird
1pm    Seli Blackmore
2pm     Kris Composer
3pm    Johnny Bellows
4pm    bFlat Unplugged
5pm    TwinGhost Ronas
630     DJ Skye Tracer

Announcement: This Week at the Seanchai Libraries

THIS WEEK: Mystery, Space, Dark Adventures, and More!  Join us on an adventure this week, for stories LIVE in Second Life, and on Seanchai Library's properties in Kitely.

Check out the stories and the storytellers at www.seanchailibrary.com

All stories told in open voice unless otherwise noted. All times SL/PT

 *SUNDAY, February February 23rd:
  
 ~ at 1:30pm: TEA TIME Special - Death On the Nile. Corwyn Allen, Da5id Abbot, Gloriana Maertens, Kayden Oconnell, and Caledonia Skytower in Episode 4 of this series featuring Dame Agatha Christie's 1937 classic. live on stream.
 
~ at 6:30pm:  MAGICLAND STORYTIME: "The Secret Garden" Continues. Caledonia Skytower, live on stream at The Golden Horseshoe at Magicland Park.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bracket/181/57/30

*MONDAY,  February 24th, at 7pm:  C. S. Lewis' OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET continues with Gyro Muggins.

*TUESDAY, February 25th, at 7pm: Neil Gaiman's TRUTH IS A CAVE IN THE BLACK MOUNTAINS with Willow Moonfire, live on stream.

*WEDNESDAY,  February 26th at 7pm: UNCONFIRMED. We have something in  the works for tonight, but we are still confirming it - Stay Tuned!

*THURSDAY, February 27th:
   ~ at 7pm: A POCKETFUL OF CROWS Concludes, with Shandon Loring. (Also in Kitely!  Find teleport from the main Seanchai World grid.kitely.com:8002:SEANCHAI)

   ~ at 9pm: SEANCHAI LATE NIGHT, a special session this week with Shandon presenting Frederick Pohl's THE DAY OF THE BOOMER DUKES.

All sessions held at the Seanchai Library in Second Life unless otherwise indicated. Schedule subject to change. 
 

Announcement: EVENTS for Home and Garden Feb, 22st, For Relay For Life

**2pm SLT  Prim Perfect Talk with Saffia Widdershins**
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hope%203/115/217/30


**4pm SLT Release of Lanterns at H and G for RFL**

Nothing is more beautiful, and a wonderful time to reflect on those we have lost.  One person commented yesterday, " It is  like sending little prayers or kisses to heaven" 

**6pmSLT TEEGLE STARS DRILL TEAM - Live at H and G for RFL**

Come see what girls are REALLY made of at the Teegle Stars Drill Team performance for Home & Garden Expo! Our team of horses and riders is ready to dazzle with coordinated displays of speed and precision on horseback that are sure to amaze! One night only: don't miss it!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hope%201/126/132/23

**7pm -9pm  Filo Tani- Early Mardi Gras  - Live at H&G for RFL**

Filo has been spinning various formats for over 10 years in Second Life. Lately Filo has focused his efforts on Blues and music for ballrooms at some of the most prominent clubs on the grid. Filo places emphasis on guest experience and makes sure the music and their enjoyment is always top of mind. A smooth "radio" voice and professional delivery makes for an excellent VIP experience.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hope%201/126/132/23

SL Video: "Kelly Osbourne - One Word"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

By BloodAppleKiss on March 2011

Breaking News: Linden Lab May Be Looking to Sell Sansar

Earlier this month, Linden Lab hit it's Sansar staff with it's second round of layoffs in two months, raising questions about the future of the virtual world. At Strawberry Linden's "Lab Gab" show today, the first thing CEO Ebbe Altberg / Ebbe Linden brought up was their plans for it. They were "looking for a plan B ... for Sansar to continue."

Yeah, so as you might have heard, sadly we have decided that we, as Linden Lab, couldn’t continue to sponsor the project financially, so we’re looking for a plan B for Sansar to continue. I can’t say much, but we’re having very interesting conversations with several parties to help that project move forward, which I’m really excited about. But no deal is done yet, so people will just have to be patient and see what happens with it, but yes  it is true that Linden Lab going forward will focus entirely on Second Life and Tilia. I’m still busy making sure that Sansar finds a great home and that the great work that that team has started can continue.

So that’s where things are at. Hopefully, we can be more specific on what’s going on in the next couple of weeks or so. So lots of conversations going on.

The "conversations with several parties to help that project move forward" could very easily mean that the Lab is looking to sell Sansar. But it could also mean they're looking for a company to partner with to keep the next-generation virtual world running. In either case, they're still in the middle of negotiations. So it will be some time until a decision is made.

There was much more discussed at the Lab Gab, which will be covered later.

Sources: Modem World, New World Notes, Ryan Scultz

 Bixyl Shuftan

The Bellisserian Bureau of Bureaucracy

Do you feel like you're a little too comfortable with being able to freely go from place to place in Second Life? Do you feel uneasy without having some form of documentation on you? If you're from the new continent, there's a place that can help you out. At the Bellisserian Bureau of Bureaucracy, or BBB, you can get a new passport or vehicle license plate. Gemma Cleanslate went there recently to check it out.

Read Gemma's article in Places.

SLife And Times: Two Sides of Banned For Being Furry

You go about Second Life in a type of avatar that you're quite proud of and helps define you, at least in the virtual world. One day, you get an invitation to a place you haven't heard about. You have time, as well as some nice clothes to wear, so you figure you might as well give it a try. But once there, you're told to change who you are, or leave. This is the situation one of our readers faced. So how should one respond? While the Newser has written about the subject before, this time we got in touch with someone from the venue in question. As it turned out, the other side did express some sympathy, but naturally the two people had quite different viewpoints.

Read the article in People.

Flickr Users Cannot Use Free Accounts to Promote Second Life Business

According to an article in New World Notes, those whom use screenshots stored on Flickr to promote their Second Life business will have to upgrade their accounts to "Pro" if they haven't already. When Hayden Pierce asked if using pictures from the virtual world applied to it's rules concerning commercial activity and free accounts, he got the following answer.

For free accounts, linking to a store in Second Life is considered commercial activity. Linking to a blog that links to a store is also considered commercial activity.

If you were to link to a separate place in the blog, it would need to be clear it has nothing to do with purchasing poses, accessories, clothes, etc.

Why is Flickr forcing free users whom use their service to help advertise their wares to get Pro accounts? It seems they've been having some financial difficulties. In December, they were pleading for more users to upgrade their accounts. "We cannot continue to operate it at a loss as we’ve been doing." So it appears the move is to get more cash from it's Second Life users.

The responses to Hamlet Au's article were mostly accepting or supportive of Flickr's move. One commented, "it is only a clarification to all the folks who ignored Flickr's rules on commercial activity. It has been forbidden a while by now and many SL users ignored it. Can't say I am surprised they decided to take action." Another thought clever Second Life business owners might write it off on their taxes as an "advertising expense."

So it seems for Second Life business owners who use Flickr, it's go Pro or go home.

Source: New World Notes

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Celestial Orbits, Part I"

"Celestial Orbits, Part I"
Saturday, February 22nd
at 10AM PST
   
Here I present the basic physics that underpins the orbits of celestial bodies.  Starting from Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation, and using many examples from everyday life, I elucidate fundamental concepts of mass and weight, true and fictitious forces, potential and kinetic energy, and orbital trajectories.  This lays the groundwork for future talk(s) on celestial orbits. 

Presented by William Wall / Syzygy Asymptote

For more information, Click Here. 




https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

Announcement: Caledon Annual Mardi Gras Parade

Come all to the Caledon Mardi Gras!!!

We'll start at 5pm slt on February 22nd, setting off from the parade staging area near the western coastline of Kittywickshire (look for the Des balloons and festive pennants!). We'll then head east through northern Caledon until we reach the eastern side of Pensans, then south to the Guv'nah's Mansion in Victoria City, then west to Caledon Prime and north into Port Caledon.

starting point--http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Kittiwickshire/54/120/23

Want to show off your best carnivale gear? Go for it!
Have themed pressies to give out along the route? Yay!
Can't wait to put together a float for you and your friends to ride? Awesome!
(But for floats, keep in mind that some of the sims are homesteads and there will be tunnels to go through along the route--try to keep the LI under 31 unless the floats are worn.)
Have none of the above but want to march and have a great time? Come on down!

Giant Des and Kami balloons will be available the day of the parade!

Questions? Contact Iason Hassanov or Lady Aeval-Leigh (Aevalle Galicia)

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Club Cutlass. Dusk Griswold, a puppeteer in real life, demonstrates a puppet strings attachment. But it let to a comparison to an expression meaning too good to be true.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Lab Gab This Friday, Featuring Ebbe and Grumpity Linden

Strawberry Linden's "Lab Gab" this week will feature a special guest. Besides Grumpity Linden, the "VP of Product," Linden Lab's CEO Ebbe Altberg/Ebbe Linden will be on the show.

Join our host, Strawberry Linden, as she speaks with the CEO of Linden Lab, Ebbe Linden, and the VP of Product, Grumpity Linden! They will be discussing the 2020 Roadmap including new features and improvements for Second Life! 

For those who wish to have a question answered, the blog post offered a google form to submit it.

The show is Friday February 21 at 11 AM SL time. It can be seen on Youtube.

RFL: Team Sunbeamers Pass 160,000 Lindens

Team Sunbeamers had been saving up all winter to get an early start in the Relay season, and in December had raised enough for Gold level fundraising. But when the kiosks were first delivered, the Lindens were loaded into it too early by mistake. But thanks to a little help, the team was given the proper credit for the donated money. Since the minor incident, almost 16,000 was raised and added to the kiosk as well, for a total of 160,000 Linden dollars. This isn't too far from Platinum. So yours truly will likely be going through his "Platinum Avatar Challenge" soon.

Expect a "Bid Me" event or two soon.  And not far from now, the Sunbeamer Air Show.

SL Video: "Where Are All the People in Second Life?"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Mangrovejane Resident on Sept 16, 2019, "Welcome to my video series 20 Second Life Questions where I pick a question and try to answer it in 3 minutes or less!! The question for today? WHERE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE?"

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs and Furry Fashion Lounge

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, the Montecito Bay clubs, and the Furry Fashion Lounge.
 
Club Cutlass: Best in 'N,' Spots and Stripes, Red and Orange

Happy Vixen: Tree and Underground Dwellers, Silks, TBA, Oceanic, Angels and Demons, Ribbons and Lace, Pants, Best in White and Gold, Boots and Booty, TBA

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Montecito Bay: TBA

Furry Fashion Lounge: CAYA, Wasteland, Video games, TWI Deer Release Party, Hybrids, Tails, Good vs Evil, Late Night, Monochrome

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.

"EARN IT" Bill In Congress Could Mean Bad News For Internet Freedom

By Bixyl Shuftan

There's another Internet bill in Congress that could have potentially dire consequences for privacy expectations people online take for granted. Introduced "to establish a National Commission on Online Child Exploitation Prevention, and for other purposes," the "Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of  Interactive Technologies" Act, or EARN IT, "opens the door for the government to require new measures to screen users’ speech and even backdoors to read your private communications."

According to an article in Bloomberg, "The bipartisan measure, ... would affect a wide range of social media companies, cloud service providers, email and text platforms and other technology services. It could put Facebook in the government’s crosshairs for its plans to encrypt all of its messaging apps and undercut Apple’s refusal to create back doors into its devices and services." The article would go on to say, "The Justice Department has tentatively scheduled a Feb. 19 meeting on the future of the immunity known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act ... The provision protects platforms from responsibility for content posted by third parties. Although the measure doesn’t directly mention encryption, it would require that companies work with law enforcement to identify, remove, report and preserve evidence related to child exploitation -- which critics said would be impossible to do for services such as WhatsApp that are encrypted from end-to-end."

Companies would have to "certify that they are following the best practices set by the 15-member commission." If they don't to its satisfaction, "they would lose the legal immunity they currently enjoy under Section 230 relating to child exploitation and abuse laws. That would open the door to lawsuits for 'reckless' violations of those laws ..."

Supporters of the bill insist the ability to read encrypted messages is necessary, saying efforts to protect encryption, “will make it harder to detect -- and stop -- child abuse and similar crimes." Elliot Harmon of the Electronic Frontier Foundation retorted that if the bill became law, "the Attorney General could unilaterally dictate how online platforms and services must operate. If those companies don’t follow the Attorney General’s rules, they could be on the hook for millions of dollars in civil damages and even state criminal penalties. ... It opens the door for the government to require new measures to screen users’ speech and even backdoors to read your private communications.

"EARN IT undermines Section 230, the most important law protecting free speech online. Section 230 enforces the common-sense principle that if you say something illegal online, you should be the one held responsible, not the website or platform where you said it. Section 230 has played a crucial role in creating the modern Internet. Without it, social media as we know it today wouldn’t exist, and neither would the Internet Archive, Wikimedia, and many other essential educational and community resources. And it doesn’t just protect tech platforms either: if you’ve ever forwarded an email, thank Section 230 that you could do that without inviting legal risk on yourself." Harmon would call the bill an attack on Internet Security, entrepreneur innovation, and just plain unnecessary.

Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerburg has stated his company will continue to be “standing up for encryption, against those who say that privacy mostly helps bad people.” Senator Ron Wyden has openly spoken in protest about the bill, "a tired, debunked plan to blow a hole in one of the most important security features protecting digital lives of the American people."

The website fightforthefuture.org/ has a petition calling on Congress to reject the bill. As of the writing of this article, it has over 8660 of the 12,800 signatures it set as a goal.

The Justice Department is currently led by Attorney General William Barr, whom lately has been the target of calls to resign for interfering with the trial of an ally of President Trump.

Sources: Electronic Frontier Foundation, Fight for the Future, Reuters, Bloomberg, Ron Wyden

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Relay Hard Cafe's "Last Bash"

ITS THE END OF AN ERA

Team Shadow will be closing the Relay Hard Cafe after one last bash!!
 Gem and Sasha will be splitting the DJ duties, so no telling what you will
 hear, Best in Purple Contest with 2000L$ on the board. Vendors, Raffles
 and Kiosks, OH MY!!!!

 Tuesday, February 18th
 5:00-7:00 PM SLT
 @Relay Hard Cafe

 BE WATCHING AS WE BEGIN A NEW ERA!

 All donations benefit The American Cancer Society

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Woodloch/219/208/2001

by Gem Sunkiller

FrannyDJ's Mardi Gras Parade

Valentines Day is over, but there's another holiday coming soon: Mardi Gras. For those who can't make it to New Orleans in real life, there's a Fat Tuesday parade here in Second Life. For the sixth year in a row, FrannyDJ is running her floats down the street high above the Angels of Desire sim. Gemma Cleanslate dropped by and was able to more than just watch, but become part of the event.

Read the story in Events.

Update on Montecito Bay

It's been about a month since the discount motel in the eastern part of Montecito Bay was seized by the mysterious Azucar entity under eminent domain laws. While there's no new information on who or what Azucar is, another property has come under their ownership. This time it's the Quality Used Cars lot on Palm Street. The cars are all gone and the building cleared out. There's not a great deal left besides the business sign and the "googly eyes" glued on it.

The car lot and the motel may be coming down soon. On another street, I saw a bulldozer and a excavator (or steam shovel/power shovel) parked next to one another. So it seems the razzing of one or both buildings can begin most any time.

For the most part, the seizure of the two places doesn't appear to have affected life in the community. Dropping by a club over the weekend, the people were talking about a furry wrestling league, not Azucar. Then again, used car salesmen don't exactly have the best of reputations. There was one place however that was making an slight extra effort to show others they were still in business. The S-Mart Express convenience store at the corner of Venetia Blvd. and Palm Street, which is near both the car lot and the motel, put up a sign, "I assure you we're open." The sign was hastily-painted words on a cloth. Although the place looked well-stocked, there was no clerk on duty when I stopped by. Maybe the worker was taking a bathroom break, but outside the store trash was piling up.

So will Montecito Bay soon be minus a motel and car lot? Will there soon be a "Rumble in the Bay" as furry wrestling comes to the community? Stay tuned for more information.

The preceding was written as a "fun article" for Montecito Bay

Bixyl Shuftan

A Very Busy Weekend

Saying the weekend was busy would be an understatement. Friday had the Hug-A-Liuden and One Billion Rising events, alongside numerous Valentines Day parties. Saturday had the Kickoff of the Relay for Life in Second Life's 2020 fundraising season (pictured above). On Saturday and Sunday were numerous smaller events by Relay teams. And over all three days was the Home and Garden Expo.

Stay tuned for articles on these, and more.

Cartoon of the Day: Cupid Dance

Taken at Club Cutlass' Valentines Day dance. Just what happens if two cupids end up dancing?

By Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: The RFL Home and Garden Fireworks

Last night (Friday February 14) I went to check out the opening of the Home and Garden and Breedables expo for the SL Relay for Life at the HOPE 1 sim. My timing via a group chat invite was perfect as I arrived just before the fireworks show was to begin.

It Was a wonderful display, no lag at all, at least from my perspective, which I found wonderfully refreshing and I floated high in the sky and cammed around the display. The display was synchronized to the music stream, and for me the timing was spot on, making for a wonderful performance.  The smoke clouds in the shape of the RFL Logo was a nice touch as well.

I tip my hat to those involved in putting that spectacular display together. If this was any indication of things to come, then he 2020 Relay For Life season is gonna be superb! I look forward to relaying with you all!

Game on!

~Matt Carlton~

Announcement: This Week at the Seanchai Libraries

SO IT BEGINS, the build up to our 12th Anniversary and we have some fun plans for March!  In the mean time, there's stories, fairy tales, and poetry await while our boots are still wet with February.  Join us on an adventure this week.

Check out the stories and the storytellers at www.seanchailibrary.com

All stories told in open voice unless otherwise noted. All times SL/PT

*SUNDAY, February 16th, at 1:30pm: TEA TIME Special - Death On the Nile. Corwyn Allen, Da5id Abbot, Gloriana Maertens, Kayden Oconnell, and Caledonia Skytower in Episode 3 of this series featuring Dame Agatha Christie's 1937 classic. This week - MURDER! live on stream.

*MONDAY, February 17th, at 7pm:  C. S. Lewis' OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET continues with Gyro Muggins.

*TUESDAY, February 18th, at 7pm: A Selection from Ella Young's AT THE GATES OF DAWN with Willow Moonfire, live on stream.

*WEDNESDAY, February 19th at 7pm: POETRY THIS YEAR. Caledonia reads from the poems selected for recitation by the students in the program she coordinates in her state, live on stream.

*THURSDAY, February 20th, at 7pm: A POCKETFUL OF CROWS Continues, with Shandon Loring. (Also in Kitely!  Find teleport from the main Seanchai World grid.kitely.com:8002:SEANCHAI)

All sessions held at the Seanchai Library in Second Life unless otherwise indicated. Schedule subject to change.   

Relay For Life Season Kickoff Today 10AM

After months of waiting, the 2020 Relay for Life fundraising season is about to start.

"It's finally here! The 2020 Relay For Life of Second Life season! ... We will be at two different stages this year! How exciting is that?  If you are unable to get into the regions, you can always listen in at T1Radio.com."

Stage 1 : Home and Garden Expo Stage
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hope%201/127/11/23

Stage 2: Bellisseria Fairgrounds
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bellisseria%20Fairgrounds/152/152/23

The event starts at 10 AM today